And this day was even made more special because it happened to be my birthday! And what a day to spend it in paradise! And what better way to start the day by thanking God for all the blessings and graces He has bestowed on me!
So, armed with excitement and enthusiasm, Rory and I set off for St. Augustine’s Church in Waikiki for my birthday (thanksgiving) mass. It was a beautiful morning! To top it off, St. Augustine’s Church is stunningly beautiful.
Thereafter, we went across the street for some morning shots of Waikiki Beach. Indeed, what a beautiful (birth)day to be spending it in paradise ~ no reason to complain whatsoever…..
After a dose of my required clicks, Rory and I then went back to their place to enjoy the sumptuous brekkie prepared by Violy. Thereafter, I grudgingly started packing for my return trip home.
At 11:30am, we headed out for lunch at Assaggio Italian Restaurant as Rory and Violy’s birthday treat for me. My fave, spaghetti with carbonara sauce, plus my iced plantation tea, were simply yummylicious!
After lunch, Violy and I walked around the Ala Moana Mall for last-minute shopping before I crossed the street to the Ala Moana Hotel for my tour bus pickup to the South Shore.
At the appointed time, I was promptly picked up by the tour bus but got caught in traffic due to the Annual Waikiki Spam Jam, which is one of the largest street festivals in honor of Hawaii’s love affair with the lovable luncheon meat.
In a nutshell, during its annual event, Kalakaua Avenue, the main street in Waikiki, is closed to car traffic and various entertainment stages are set up on the street. Between the stages are several of Honolulu's finest restaurants that serve up Spam in many different ways. A variety of Hawaiian craft booths, as well as several merchandise tents that sell Spam-themed items, are also set up on the street.
Introduced in 1937 by Hormel Foods, more Spam is consumed per person in Hawaii than in any other state in the United States wherein almost seven million cans of Spam are eaten every year. Are you thinking what I’m thinking???
Anyhow, the driver had to go past and around detour signs so he could pick up other members of the tour who were billeted in various Waikiki hotels. This goes without saying that we were behind schedule in our tour itinerary. Agh!
Nevertheless, we finally got out of the traffic jam and met up with the other members of the tour group who were already waiting for us at the Pali Lookout. But since we were late, we didn’t get a chance to take some clicks of the amazing views that were ours for the taking. Darn!
We then hopped onboard another tour bus and off we went to the South Shore. Enroute to Hanauma Bay, we had a glimpse of Rabbit Island.
As a backgrounder, Rabbit Island, also known as Manana Island, is a volcanic tuff cone island located off the southeastern shore of Oahu.
It was not named after its shape, although many regard the island to be formed in the likeness of a rabbit, but because originally it was the location of a rabbit-raising farm. In 1994, the rabbits were removed because they started destroying the native ecosystem of the island, which is an important seabird breeding area. The islet is now a state-protected bird sanctuary where thousands of birds, during the spring and summer months, come to breed.
Popular with photographers, the island can easily be seen from several beaches along Oahu’s windward coast. But this island really excels as a diving site. With surrounding water depth of 40-70 feet and a fantastic visibility which can reach 80 feet, advanced divers flock to this site for the exciting marine life. However, sharks here are extremely territorial and have a history of attacking humans; therefore, divers are advised to leave the water if sharks are spotted.
Our first stop was at the Halona Blowhole.
On windy days when the tide is high, the ocean breeze sends the waves rolling on to the shore where the rock formation then shoots sea spray high into the air through the cave acting like a geyser. It is not always at its best every day though. The blowhole is most active when the tide is high and the winds are strong.
The Blowhole is now fenced off so you can’t really get close to it. This is thanks to a stupid high school kid from California who thought that he could look over the hole and get his face sprayed. Well he did, but the strong force of the blowhole fatally swept him off the ledge and he drowned. How is it possible to be that stupid?
Right next to the blowhole is Halona Cove, which was made famous in the steamy love scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the film, “From Here to Eternity”. Not only did these two actors share a kiss in 1953, but also Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler who shared a romantic first kiss in the movie, “50 First Dates”.
It is a small pit of sand where tourists and locals enjoy a small beach while visiting the blowhole attraction and it is also great for swimming when the surf is very calm. Be warned, however, that access to the beach is difficult and it is dangerous to swim when the surf is rough considering that there are no lifeguards on duty at this place.
Continuing on, our next stop was at Hanauma Bay.
Hanauma Bay is another one of the breathtaking natural wonders found on the island of Oahu. Staring out at the circular-shaped shore, you can imagine how this beautiful cove was once a volcanic crater. Thousands of years saw mighty waves from the ocean storming the seaside wall, and from the strength of the perpetual waves, the wall collapsed and the waves rushed in to fill the void.
Flanked by a golden sandy beach that stretches 2,000 feet, Hanauma Bay is also a marine life conservation area making conditions even more pristine. If you see it from one of the helicopter tours, it seems as if a crashed meteor created the beautiful bay by carving it deeply out. Today, this crater is home to an important nature preserve and is also the island's most popular snorkeling destination.
The weather remained perfect the entire day. Since we were given a little bit of time at this stop, I looked for a lovely spot to lean against and let the sounds of the ocean tranquilize me while I closed my eyes and cherished the moment.
Indeed …
Oahu, whether blanketed in full sunshine, softly illuminated under a vibrant sunset, or sparkling beneath a star-filled sky, is a picture of paradise.
After enjoying some blissful moments, it was time to board the bus and on to the next destination. Along the way, the tour guide passed us through Kahala Avenue, the richest neighborhood in all of Hawaii, sharing a bit of stories about the controversial Genshiro Kawamoto, the multimillionaire from Japan who owns lots of properties on Kahala Avenue, but who allowed his properties to be left in disrepair.
Our final stop was at the Diamond Head Park. Diamond Head is the name of a volcanic tuff cone known to Hawaiians as Leahi, most likely from “lae” meaning promontory plus “ahi” for tuna because the shape of the ridgeline resembles the shape of a tuna’s dorsal fin. Its English name was given by British sailors in the 19th century who mistook calcite crystals embedded in the rock for diamonds.
The view from this vantage point was simply breathtaking! I just sat there for a few moments with a smile firmly planted on my face.
Soon, it was time for us to head back. The bittersweet feeling that makes its way into the heart as a vacation comes to an end is rearing its ugly head. I'm already thinking about the long flight back home - and the return to the ritual that is everyday life. Although I believe that I have a pretty good everyday life, it sure as hell isn't a Hawaiian adventure!
So, after I was dropped off at the Ala Moana Hotel, I returned to Violy’s place for a quick shower and changed into comfortable clothes for my flight back home.
DEPARTURE
It was time to finish packing for my trip back home. I was quite apprehensive because although I was already checked in, I still wasn’t given a seat assignment, just an assurance that I would be given one when I check my luggage in at the airport. But being an organized traveler, you can just imagine what must be going through my head at that time. You're right, I was uneasy and I couldn’t wait to leave. Yet, I thoroughly enjoyed my last supper with Violy and Rory. Nobody could ever beat a home-cooked meal, right?
And so, after saying my goodbyes and exchanging hugs with Violy, Rory took me to Ala Moana Hotel where I was to be picked up by the speedishuttle for my trip to the airport. Along the way, I was so worried and anxious about my seat assignment (or lack thereof) that I wasn’t able to enjoy the bright lights and the warm and balmy weather of Honolulu that I came to love.
Upon checking my luggage in with Alaska Airlines at the airport, I sweetly asked the attendant about my seat assignment, to which she told me not to worry about it and that I would be given one at the gate’s desk. Not worry? Yeah, right…. easier said than done. Besides, since it was the first time that happened to me, I couldn’t help but get worried.
As soon as I arrived at the gate, I stood guard by the agent’s desk so I will be the first in line when the agents would eventually show up. The time was 9:00pm. My flight was not till 11:30pm and boarding time was at 10:55pm. Just imagine waiting anxiously for about 2 hours... it’s cruel!!! But I kept my wits about me. And my patience.... hoping that it will eventually pay off.
Anyhow, when the agents finally showed up at 10:30pm, I just told one of them (with a smile, mind you) that I needed a seat assignment. No words were exchanged after that. Just silence. All I heard was the clicking of the computer keys and the printing of my boarding pass. When the boarding pass was finally handed over to me, my eyes automatically looked at the seat number which I immediately recognized as a seat in first class. Wahoo!!! Instantly, my apprehension turned into extreme delight! I profusely thanked the agent and told her it was the best birthday gift ever! She then smiled, wished me a happy birthday and told me to enjoy the flight. By the way, did I mention that my airfare was free because I used my airline points? (Wink! Wink!)
Indeed, what a wonderful birthday gift to end a wonderful trip in such a wonderful place. I couldn’t ask for more…..
So, when my flight was called, I was one of the FIRST first-class passengers to board the aircraft. And as soon as I sat down, I was immediately offered a juice and a snack, whereas my seatmate (a teenager) instantly fell asleep, probably too exhausted from surfing. But I couldn’t sleep as I was too damn excited! And about an hour later, I was offered another snack composed of a tray of cheese and crackers, goat cheese (yum!), assorted nuts and grapes. Ooooh yes, life is gooooood!
I must have finally dozed off since I woke up to a brekkie of Danish croissant and juice. The plane touched down on time at exactly 8:30 in the morning of Sunday, April 28th. Bellingham airport, being so small, has its advantages, one of which is the luggage pick-up being so quick that you are out of the airport in a jiffy.
I was picked up by Ralph (of course), along with Ritchie and Grace who wanted to surprise me. We just breezed through at the US-Canada border; therefore I was home by 11:00am and into the waiting arms of Ricky who prepared a sumptuous birthday lunch for me. Ahhh….. the sweet and familiar aroma of a home-cooked meal. As I often said in the past, it’s so good to be back home.
In retrospect, it was absolutely a trip of a lifetime and I am now thoroughly hooked on Hawaii. Luckily, there is a lot more to see and do which will justify more trips hopefully in the not-too-distant future. I just hope I will be back in Paradise soon.
In conclusion ---
Hawaii has a little something for everyone – whether you’re in the mood to build sand castles in Oahu, slurp noodles at a beloved ramen spot in Maui, go horseback riding in the big Island of Hawaii, or try stand-up paddleboarding in Kauai. The islands are diverse and the options are extensive. Best of all, Hawaii is user-friendly. The pace is slow, and the dress code is decidedly casual. The focus is on comfort and convenience.
By serendipity and design, Hawaii is an almost flawless destination. It’s an enchanting multicultural society with roots in Polynesia, Asia, North America and Europe, and it’s an expression of nature at its most luscious and divine. The fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters refresh you. The breathtaking, natural beauty renews you. Just look around. There’s no place on earth like Hawaii.
However, locals know that Hawaii isn’t really paradise. But on any given day, it can surely feel like it……
After all, Hawaii is where stories are born and memories are made.
Last but not least, THANK YOU to Violy and Rory for opening up their hearts (and place) to me. Spending some quality time with them was indeed a bonus that I am so grateful for – for without them, my holiday wouldn’t have been as exciting and worry-free as it had been. Again, THANK YOU to you both!
And A Hui Hou (until we meet again)….
So folks, this concludes my Hawaiian travelogue. Hope you enjoyed it.
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